Kiipu

Bruce, I have 名10506 down as having a black scabbard. Is the black paint original to the sword? Also, is there any signs of an undercoat? What are your thoughts about this one?

I tracked the sword down to an October 2013 thread over at WRF. I do not think it falls into the same category as the OP. The WRF sword could have been made outside of Japan during the war? Samurai swords

The blue and gold labels both have the same logo and name on them. Both labels have the name spelled from right to left. The labels can show up on either a scabbard or a scabbard cover. Both labels are overwritten or overstamped, either with a person's name or date stamp. 関 = Seki. 刃物 =Hamono = Cutlery. 工業 = Kōgyō = Manufacturers'. 組合 = Kumiai = Society. As far as I know, the association was established in 1931. 岐阜県関市における刃物産業の歴史的な発展過程

Link to another gold label. https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w443641699

The concentric circles are the katakana characters セ and キ, one over the other. The セ is at the top and the キ is at the bottom. The kanji character in the middle is 工. This is more than likely the logo of 関刃物工業組合 [The Seki Cutlery Manufacturers' Society]. There is another logo that is similar and one can more clearly see the katakana characters over one another. Arsenal Stamps., Post #100 Edit: Post #4 partially answered the question.

A 16th series commercial Mantetsu, one of 7 known in this series. The series low is タ181 and the high is タ336. Do post an overall picture of the sword with the scabbard placed below the blade. This is just to classify the fittings as either army, navy, or civilian. タ 二八七 = TA 287. 昭和辛巳春 = Spring 1941. 興亜一心　満鐵作之 = Kōa Isshin　Mantetsu saku kore.

No but when I do you will be hearing from me!

Have you found a Yasutsuna stamp yet? See Slough, page 194.

I was able to view and download the webpage in question via the Wayback Machine. It was, as you inferred, a rather interesting read. I for one am glad that you have such a good memory! Wayback Machine ryujinswords-tang-stamps-2017-1218.pdf

Are we having problems spelling Japanese today? 昭和刀 = Shōwa-tō = Showa- toh. Toh is just the old style of rendering ō. It is phonetic based and works out well. Still used by older Japanese, including my translator from long ago. Since Showa is a word used in the English language, the macrons are dropped, just like the spelling of Tokyo. This is because the average English speaker has no idea what a macron is nor how it is pronounced. The spelling of ō as oh solves this problem. Sometimes in life, one must think how things were done on a typewriter versus a word processor.

And the slot would act like a lock washer when tightened down too. The down side would be the protruding screw interfering with the hand grip. Elco68, when gripping the sword, do you notice this protrusion? I take it your handle relates somehow to the Electric Launch Company (Elco), possibly PT boat related? Inquiring minds what to know!

Another update for the bibliography. This time coming from Nick Komiya, who is active over at WRF. Thanks Nick for all your help, much appreciated by all. Any and all mistakes in translation are mine, and mine alone. Mori Yoshio 森･良雄. Gensuitō to guntō (guntō no rekishi) 元帥刀と軍刀 (軍刀の歴史) [Field Marshal Swords and Military Swords (A History of Military Swords)]. 2001. A 78 page monograph divided into four chapters. There are no photographs and only a few drawings. It seems to be a collection of various government documents.

Cross reference to the same sword over at WRF. Help IJA NCO 95?

I see now that I poorly worded my post above. What I meant, was that issued items were painted black. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused you and yours.

In the United States, for over 30 years, black paint on weapons is associated with the Japanese navy. This falls into the common knowledge category over on this side of the pond. To my knowledge though, there is no documentation about this, it is just the knowledge handed down from the prior generation of collectors. With that said, I have no evidence that the Japanese navy used the Type 95 to begin with. An interesting thread and if I learn of anything concrete, will chime in again.

Your "methylated spirits" is called "denatured alcohol" in the United States and is also used as a fuel over here. The "strong alcohol" I was referring to is called "industrial alcohol" and was sold in a 1 quart metal can. In the States, the average home garage would also have paint thinner, lacquer thinner, and as Bruce mentioned, acetone. I myself never used acetone, instead preferring lacquer thinner for stripping. I also used 91% rubbing alcohol for certain purposes, such as removing ballpoint pen ink and permanent marker. For removing adhesives, like those paper back price stickers, I used coal tar oil, better known as lighter fluid. Spray paint just melts away upon contact with alcohol. It can literally to wiped away with a towel or cloth. It is really that fast, hence my comment about a cotton swab test. My one experience with Japanese black paint was on a trainer. My reason for wanting to remove the paint in the first place was because I thought it was possibly a postwar job. It did not take long for me to learn the errors of my way. My experience mirrored Bruce's, the black paint was difficult to remove, even with a short-bristle brush. The paint they used would soften up a little, tacky to the touch, but did not want to go away in a friendly sort of way. In the end, I decided to just leave well enough alone.

Below is the citation for the book. Sekishi kyōiku iinkai 関市教育委員会 [Seki City Board of Education]. Sekishi-shi 関市史 [History of Seki City]. Seki: Seki City, 1967. https://ndlonline.ndl.go.jp/#!/detail/R300000001-I000001107649-00 The table of contents can be found at the link below. https://www.library.pref.gifu.lg.jp/gifuken-mokuji/seki/seki.htm

Jinsen was never noted for their quality control! Jinsen could have started with the Pattern 5 and then moved on to the Pattern 6. Jinsen serial number 300060 has a matching steel scabbard that is painted black. However, the tsuka was painted gray so it may be just best to ignore the colors for the time being. The next sword after yours is serial number 300107 and it has an unserialized wooden scabbard with the black metal fittings and green painted wood or is it canvass? It would not surprise me in the least if Nagoya Arsenal supplied Type 95 component parts to assist Jinsen in getting production started. Jinsen Arsenal assisted Hōten (Mukden) Arsenal Company, Limited, in setting up Type 99 Short Rifle production and Chūō Kōgyō KK assisted Hōten Arsenal Co., Ltd., with Type 99 LMG production. In both cases, component parts were supplied and used in production.

I re-looked at the pictures and I would like to point out that the bottom of the scabbard has been sanded down. This was possibly done to address the rust issue in this area. Another comment while I am at it, one can distinguish between spray paint and regular paint with a simple test. Just take a q-tip and soak it in strong alcohol and dab it on the paint in an area that you are not concerned about. Spray paint will easily come off while regular paint will be more resistant. I say this based upon personal experience.

Your sword was made by Suya under the supervision of Kokura Arsenal. Here is a link to a basic overview of the Type 95. IJA Type 95 NCO Sword Info Type 95s do show up with black painted scabbards. The black paint on yours is old and showing signs of age. The bubbling could indicate exposure to heat over a period of time and/or just a chemical breakdown of the paint from age. Below is a link to an article about Japanese sword care. At the bottom of the page there is an orange link to download a PDF copy. Japanese Sword Care and Etiquette

Here is the listing for those that care to take a look. For the Shin Gunto collector who has everything

A similar sword was recently acquired by ribendao and can be seen at the link below. Light weight/Dress Shingunto

Another small detail is I do not see any provision for a scabbard lock on these while Bruce's does have a scabbard lock. The fitting are army all the way through and that rules out use by other government organizations. I think these are pre-1938 manufacture and tend to agree with John above. Bruce's sword seems to be the next step in the evolution of the concept. Make is showy but also make it functionial.

Thanks for the prompt reply. In regards to the mon, post the picture in the thread below. Help Identity Our Mons.

Shortly after this thread started in October 2011, Slough san passed away according to this NMB thread. RIP John Scott Slough, Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868-1945